Turn signal for automobiles



May 2l; l940o w. wEsTLUND 2,201,657

TURN SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 5, 1938 Patented May 2l, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TURN SIGNAL FOB. AUTGMGBILES Walter L. Westlund, St. Paul, Minn.

Application January 3, 1938. Serial No. 182,950

1 Claim.

Thisinvention relates to a turn signal for vehicles such as automobiles. In view of modern tralc conditions it is very desirable and in some places it is compulsory to give a signal when a turn is to be made to the right or to the left.

A turn signal to be most eicient must be disposed where it can be seen from the front or rear of the vehicle. It should also be located where it will be least obscured by other vehicles.

i6 It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and conspicuous turn signal disposed on the top of the automobile so that it can be seen from the front or rear thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to pro- 15 vide a turn signal of the illuminated type and one comprising members made of tubes containing gas and electrodes and adapted to be illuminated as are the well known neon signs.

It is more specifically an object of the inven- 20 tion to provide a conspicuous turn signal mounted on top of the automobile comprising three separate members adapted to be cooperatively illuminated, a guard preferably being provided over said signal.

25 These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing in which like referencecharacters refer to similar vparts throughout the sevm eral views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in rear elevation of the upper part of an automobile showing the signals mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and the arrows adjacent thereto;

Fig. 3 isa vertical section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a view in rear elevation of the signal it? device shown upon an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a partial View of the steering post and steering wheel showing the switch thereon.; and

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagramfor the signals.

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. l the upper part of an automobile III is shown, the same being viewed from the rear and being of the closed car type. Said top has mounted thereon in spaced relation small flanged brackets II having upstanding tubular portions IIa. A

@il guard member I2 in the form of a cylindrical rod has its ends disposed vertically and secured in the hubs IIa. As` shown in Fig. 4 one of the ends of rod I2 is threaded as shown at I2a and engages threads in its bracket I I. Said end is 55 thus arranged so that it can be moved more or less into its bracket II. The brackets II will be secured to the top of the automobile by suitable screws or rivets I3. A short distance above brackets II the rod I2 is bent at a right angle so as to extend toward the remote sides of said brackets. Said rod is then bent into semi-circular form at each end and has a top horizontal portion. Rod. I2 will preferably be hollow or in the form of a tube. Small tubular supports I4 are secured to the underside of member I2 and lo support at their lower ends a tube I6 of elongated form. .Tube I6 will be made of glass or other transparent material and will have an electrode therein so that it can be illuminated as is the tubular and well known neon sign. Members l5 l'I and I8 are disposed adjacent the Aends of tube I6 but separated slightly therefrom and are axially aligned with said tube. Members I'l and I8 are shown as in the form of arrows or arrowheads and they point respectively away from the 20 ends of tube I6. The members Il and I8 will also be made of transparent tubes and will contain electrodes so that they may be illuminated as are the common neon signs. Members II and I8 are supported by small tubular supports I9 25 secured thereto and depending from member I2. The conductors for member I6 will pass through the tubular supports I4 and through the memberv I2 into the top of the automobile. The conductors for members I'l and I8 will pass through 30 the tubular supports I9 respectively and through member I2 into the top of the automobile. There is now on the market a transformer device which can be used with the ordinary automobile battery to furnish suitable current for illuminating 35 the tubular members I6, Il and I8. A- switch 20 having a small operating lever 20a will be provided for `controlling' the circuits for members I6, I1 and I8 and this switch will preferably be located on the steering post 2I a short '40 distance under the steering wheel 22 secured to said post.

The wiring diagram for the device is shown in Fig. 6. The battery of the automobile is illustrated as 23 and as usual will be connected by 45 conductor 24 to ground 25 or as is the usual practice to the frame of the automobile. Battery 23 will be connected by a conductor 26 to the movable contact or member 20a of the'switch 20. {The stationary contacts are shown as 20h 5o and 20c disposed at either side of a spaced fram'e contact 20a. Contact 26h is connected by a conductor 2'I to the transformer 28 already referred to. Contact 20c is connected by a conductor 29 to the transformer 28, said transformer 55 being designated by the letter T. A conductor extends from one opposite contact of transformer 28 to one part of the electrode in tube I6. A flasher device 3| is inserted in the conductor 38. Such flasher devices are now common in the art and the structure thereof need be no further described. The device merely acts to interrupt the current at short intervals to give a :dashing eiect on a member illuminated by the current passing therethrough. A conductor 32 extends from the other part of the electrode in tube I6 to the ground or frame as indicated at 33. A conductor 34 extends one opposite contact of transformer 28 to one part of the electrode in one end of member I1, said conductor also having a. flasher 3| inserted therein. A conductor extends from the other part of the electrode in member I1 to ground at 36 or to the frame of the automobile. A conductor 31 extends from another opposite contact on transformer 28 to one part of the electrode in one end of member I8, said conductor also having a flasher 3| inserted therein. A conductor 38 extends from the other part of the electrode in the other end of member I8 to ground or thev frame of the machine as indicated at 39. A conductor 48 extends from conductor 34 to the iirst mentioned part of the electrode in one end of member I6, and a conductor 4I extends from conductor 31 to one part of said electrode in member I6.

It will be understood that switch member 20a will have three positions, an open or central position and closed positions at either side of said central or open position. When switch contact 20a is moved into engagement with contact 20c a circuit will be closed from battery 23 through conductor 28 contacts 28a and 20c, conductor 29, through transformer 28, through conductors 31 and 4| to one end of tube I6 and to ground through conductor 32. The current thus traverses tube I6 and tube I6 is thus illuminated. A circuit is also completed as above traced through transformer 28 then vthrough conductor 31 and asher 3| to one part of the electrode in member I8 and through said member I 8 and the other part of the electrode therein, then through conductor 38 to ground 39. Member I8 will thus be illuminated simultaneously with member I6 and member I8 will flicker or be intermittently illuminated by the action of asher 3 I. The tube I6 and member I8 are thus illuminated and will indicate to traflic both in the rear of the automobile and in the front thereof that the driver contemplates a right turn. When the contact 28a is moved into engagement with contact 28D a circuit is closed from battery 23 through conductor 26, through contacts 20a and 28h, conductor 21 and through transformer 28 then through conductor `34 and flasher 3| to member I1 and from the other end of member I1 through conductor 35 to ground 36. Member I1 will be illuminated and will iicker due to flasher 3|. A circuit is also completed from conductor 34 through conductor 40 to one part of an electrode in one end of tube I6 through said tube to the other part of the electrode therein then into conductor 32 to ground 33. Member I6 will thus be illuminated simultaneously with member I1. Members I6 and I1 being illuminated and member I1 iiashing a very conspicuous signal will be given, Visible from the front and rear of the automobile indicating that the driver is contemplating a left turn. In practice member I6 will be constructed and arranged to be of red color when illuminated. member I1 will also be constructed and arranged to be of red color and member I8 will be constructed and arranged to be of a green color. These colors are now in common use in such illuminated gas type signs. It will thus be seen that the turn signals are constituted by the illuminated red member I6 and the pointed member acting in conjunction therewith at the end thereof toward which the turn is to be made.

It is also desired to use the member I6 as a stop signal and for this purpose a conductor 42 is provided leading from conductor 28 to a switch 43 of the single pole type which will be connected by a member 44 to the brake lever of the automobile so that switch 43 will be closed when the brakes are to be applied. A conductor 45 extends from switch 43 to one entering Contact of transformer 28 and the opposite contact is connected to conductor 30. It will be seen that when switch 43 is closed that a circuit will be closed through member I6 which will extend from battery 23 through conductors 26 and 42 through switch 43 and conductor 45, through transformer 28 and through conductor 30 to the part of the electrode in one end of tube I6 and then through conductor 32 to ground 33. Member I6 will thus be illuminated and the same iiicker due to the operation of the ilasher 3|. Member I6 will thus be illuminated and act as a stop light to indicate when the automobile is coming to a stop. The connections of course, must be so arranged that current cannot feed back through conductors 40 or 4| to illuminate members I1 or I8. The switch 20 will be made of any convenient and simple type and the two contact sides thereof may be provided with red and green colors or they may be also entitled with the letters R and L to indicate in which positions the switch will be disposed to indicate a right or left turn. 'I'he threaded portion I2a on member I2 is provided so thatadjustment can be made for different styles or makes of cars where there may be a difference in the slope of the car top or roof.

From the above description it is thus seen that applicant has provided a very simple and.

yet very eiiicient turn signal. 'I'he signal being disposed on the top of the car is in the most conspicuous place and can be seen at long distances. Being illuminated it is also very conspicuous. The member I2 is provided to act as a guard or shield for the members I6, I1 and I8. Should the car be out in a snow storm the guard I2 will prevent the snow falling directly on top of the members I6, I1 and I8 and there Will be a tendency for the snow to be swept out of the loop formed by guard I2 so that the device will be kept clear of snow. 'I'he signal will thus not be obscured by the snow piling up on members I6, I1 and I8. The member I2 also forms a convenient support and guard for the glass or transparent portions I6, I1 and I8 preventing them from being struck from any object from above. There may be a certain amount of resiliency in member I2 due to the bends at the ends thereof which will tend to absorb any shock which might be transmitted to the roof of the car. If desired, the brackets II may be made resilient or may be mounted on resilient members.

It will be apparent that the device will have a high degree of utility for the purpose intended.

It will be understood that the members I6, I1 and I8 will contain neon or other suitable gas and the electrodes as is the common practice asoma? and well known in the art. The member l2 will be nicely plated and chromium plating preferably being used. This will make the surface quite smooth so that snow, dust or dirt will not easily adhere thereto. The plating will also have quite a reflecting effect which will add tothe efficiency of the signal. The bright plating will also keep the device from becoming unduly heated in the sun. The interior of the device forming members. I6, l1 and I8 may be frosted in some suitable manner and add to the visibility in the daytime. It will also be noted that the device being at the left hand side of the car will be more easily seen by traillc following the car. By moving slightly to the left in the traffic lane a good view is had of cars ahead and the signal will be thus veryv conspicuous and very easily seen.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangements and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and deiined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is.:

A turn and stop signal for an automobile having in combination, an velongated tube of small diameter, pointed separate members formed of tubes of substantially the same diameter disposed in the same vertical plane as and at either end of said elongated tube and pointing away from said tube respectively, said tubes being of the type used in neon signs and having electrodes therein and adapted to be illuminated in the operation of said signal, 'a guard member formed of a tube of small diameter extending around said tube and members and over the same at a small distance therefrom and disposed in the same vertical plane as said tube and members, said` guard member having its ends secured to the top of said automobile, said tube, members and guard member forming an openwork structure, the parts of which are of small transverse dimension, whereby snow'cannot become disposed against said structure and obscure said signal and whereby said signal is easily visible from the front and rear of said automobile at either side thereof, and members supporting said first mentioned tube and members from said guard.

WALTER. L. WESI'LUND. 

